Fibronectin-binding protein gene recombination and horizontal transfer between Group A and G Streptococci

Authors

Rebecca J. Towers, University of Wollongong
Daniel Gal, Charles Darwin University
David McMillan, Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Kadaba S. Sriprakash, Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Bart J. Currie, Charles Darwin University
Mark J. Walker, University of WollongongFollow
Gursharan S. Chhatwal, German National Research Centre for Biotechnology
Peter K. Fagan, Charles Darwin University

RIS ID

11565

Publication Details

Towers, R. J., Gal, D., McMillan, D., Sriprakash, K. S., Currie, B. J., Walker, M. J., Chhatwal, G. S. & Fagan, P. K. (2004). Fibronectin-binding protein gene recombination and horizontal transfer between Group A and G Streptococci. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 42 (11), 5357-5361.

Abstract

We report evidence of interspecies gene transfer between the important virulence factor genes sfbI and gfbA. Because the identified group G streptococcus gfbA types possess DNA cassettes that can be identified in a number of group A streptococcus strains, it appears that homologous recombination is occurring between these species.